LONDON, June 6 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

* The Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has concluded her visit to two key world powers China and India * Her agenda has focused on issues crucial for the UK national interest, including freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Russia's illegal invasionofUkraine and artificial intelligence. * Meetings includedChinese Vice President Han Zheng, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modiand Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

The Foreign Secretary has concluded athree-dayvisit to China andIndia, strengtheningthe UK's links with two of the world's most influential powers.

During her visit, the Foreign Secretary underlined the need for the UK to be engaged with other serious players on the world stage, to make sure the UK was at the centre of dialogue and debate on the international issues that are shaping the world today.

She underlined that the UK cannot insulate itself from global issues through "cancel culture" on foreign policy and not engaging in vital global discussions.It must instead have conversations with key interlocutors that further the UK national interest, cooperating on areas of common ground and challenging in areas where we disagree. These conversations are rooted in the UK's international approach that strong, purposeful engagement on the world stage is the best way to deliver growth and security for the British people.

In China, the Foreign Secretary travelled to Beijingfor political engagements before going on to Shenzhen for meetings with Chinese tech businesses on Wednesday.

Meetings with Vice President Han Zheng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi focused on global security and economic stability. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and two major global economies, the Foreign Ministers discussed working together to support international stability at a time of growing geopolitical tension. TheForeign Secretary stressedthe urgency ofreopeningthe Strait of Hormuzwithout tolls or charges, preventingnuclear proliferationinIranandmaintainingstability in thewider Middle East. Sheunderlinedtheneedfor an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine,urgingChina to end economic support for Russia's illegal war.

She and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also discusseda range of other foreign and security policy issues, includingefforts to achieve an end to the conflict inSudan,andtheimportance of coordinatedinternational support torespond totheEbolaoutbreakin the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

As part of the visit, the UK announced a new partnership between the Prudentialplcand the National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA) to launch a series of local healthy ageing hubs across China. The collaboration will strengthen the UK's global leadership in health innovation and unlock new commercial opportunities for British healthcare & life sciences businesses - driving growth back into the UK.

Travelling to Shenzhen, the Foreign Secretary engaged senior business leaders,investorsand technology companies, promoting the UK as an open, competitive destination for investment. She saw some of the advances in AI and robotics inChina, andpushed for the need forinternational standardsandinternational cooperationaround AI safety and security as technology becomes more advanced.

Going onto New Delhi on Thursday, the Foreign Secretary drove forward work on issues that are vital to UK prosperity, speaking to the Indian Government about maritime security, growth and keeping supply chains secure from global economic shocks.

In meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi andExternalAffairs MinisterDr S Jaishankar, the Foreign Secretary built on the strategic direction and vision for deeper cooperation built by the Prime Minister under Vision 2035.

She highlighted the crucial need to work together on the Strait of Hormuz and easing the impact its closure is having on international shipping.

As part of that, the Foreign Secretaryco-launched a new Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (RMSCE), bolstering the UK's cooperation with India on maritime security and resilience to international shocks.

Critical minerals also formed a key part of talks with Indian interlocutors. On the visit,theFS underlined the UK's commitment to working with partners to create more diverse and resilient supply chains.

Critical minerals are essential to the UK's current and future prosperity, as necessary components in everything from electric vehicles and wind turbines to smart phones.

During her meeting with G. Kishan Reddy, India's Minister for Coal and Mines, the Foreign Secretary launched the Critical Mineral's Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO). A flagshipcomponentof the UK-India TechnologySecurity Initiative, this Observatory provides a groundbreaking AI tool thatgivesreal time information on global critical mineral flows andidentifiessupply chain vulnerabilities.

As part of the GSCO, India will commit £1.2m of funding toestablisha satellite observatorycampus at the Indian Institute of Technologyin Dhanbad with the University of Cambridge.

Speaking on economic security, the Foreign Secretary said on the visit:

We are strengthening oureconomicpartnerships, and we're alsostrengthening our security partnerships; on maritime security, and on AI security. We are doing a lot of joint work together becausethey'rethe biggest powers in the world - theUKhas toengage with the biggest powers.

We're going to be engaging with governments that have different views from us on things. But we can also engage with, work with, and strengthen partnerships with countries at the same time as talking through and engaging on those disagreements.

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Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.